Welding parameters
Current, voltage, wire feed speed, polarity and welding positions.
Parameters are not independent knobs. Current sets penetration and pool size; voltage sets arc length and bead width; travel speed divides the energy over the length of the joint. Change one and the other two have to move with it, which is why "correct settings" always come as a set.
The position then rewrites all of them. In the flat position gravity holds the pool in the joint; in every other position it does not, so the pool has to be smaller — less current, a smaller electrode, and a technique that gives the metal time to freeze.
The arithmetic behind the settings lives in the calculators; this section is about what the numbers do.
Frequently asked questions
Which parameter do I change first when the weld looks wrong?
Current, and by about 10 %. It has the largest effect on penetration and pool size, and the change is immediately visible in the bead. Only when the current is right does adjusting voltage and travel speed tell you anything useful.
What is the difference between PF and PG?
Direction. PF is vertical up: good penetration, slow, and what structural work means by "vertical". PG is vertical down: fast, shallow, and correct only on thin sheet and cellulosic root runs. Using PG where PF was specified is a reliable way to produce lack of fusion.